At noon, on Tuesday, the Louisa left Rock Island with a large party of Masons and several Old Settlers, to attend the funeral of Supervisor Rinnah Wells , of Andalusia, who died on Sunday evening, of paralysis, after a brief illness.
The funeral took place from the residence, close to Andalusia, and was preceded by a short service, which was performed by Rev. P. Smith, pastor of the Methodist church of Andalusia, who made a prayer in the open air at the house, there not being room enough within to accommodate all present. The funeral, however, was conducted according to Masonic rites, under the charge of Dr. Cozad, W. M., of Andalusia Lodge No. 516, assisted by Past Masters Cleaveland, Montgomery and Boney, of the Rock Island Lodges. The procession included some 75 Masons, representing Andalusia Lodge No. 516, Andalusia; Eureka No. 57, Milan; Keeny No. 223, Edgington; and Trio No. 57 and Rock Island No. 658, Rock Island.
The Masons were in full regalia. Of the Old Settlers there were present, John E. Babcock, Lucius Beal, Lucius Beal Jr. George Henry, Chas. Laflin, Daniel Edgington, John Edgington, Dr. E. H. Bowman, Joseph Lloyd, R S. Momgomery, Wm. Bruner, Brooks and others. Only one member of the Board of Suppervisors was present; W. L. Sweeney of the city. The pall bearers were Wm. Francis and Riley Hayford, of Milan; H. Hazhitt, of Edgington, and Henry Burgower, Frazer Wilson, J. B. Cargill, A. J. Swanson and W. L. Sweeney. of Rock Island. The services at the grave, in Andalusia cemetery, were performed according to Masonic custom by H. C. Cleaveland, in the presence of a large concourse of friends and relatives who, with their vehicles, had swelled the procession to the dimensions of one of the largest ever seen at a funeral in this county.
Rinnah Wells was born in Shawneetown, Wayne county, Ill., May 14, 1821. He moved to Rock Island county with his father's family in 1828, when seven years old. The family lived, for the first year, in a cabin behind what was the old County Poor House, on the Milan road; but next year, they built a two-story frame house was erected-afterward known as the County Poor House-which they then moved into.
On Feb. 25, 1847, Mr. Wells married Miss Hannah Buffum, daughter of the late Jonathan Buffum and sister of John and Seth R. Buffum, now of Andalusia. Mrs. Wells survives him, with five daughters; Mrs. Mary L. Atwood, widow; Mrs. Clara Kenworthy, wife of Mr. J.T. Kenworthy. of Rock Island; and Ella, Lucy and Amanda-the latter being twins, now about 10 years of age. There were also three sons, two of whom died during childhood and the third while yet a young man.
Mr. Wells followed the occupation of a farmer, except during five years, when he added to it the following of a merchant, being in partnership, in Andalusia, in the grain, hardware and agricultural implement business, with Capt. J. M. Montgomery, now of the hardware house of Stewart & Montgomery, of Rock Island. This partnership was amicably dissolved and the business sold in 1873, when Capt Montgomery settled in Rock Island. The offcial career of Mr. Wells was varied. He was one of the first Supervisors elected in this county, representing the township of Fremont-now Zuma, and, afterward, Andalusia, where he had just been re-elected at the time of his death. He served as Deputy Sheriff under the in-cumbency of Sheriff Lucius Wells and S.S. Guyer, and gave great satisfaction. As a Mason, he was a Past Master of the Andalusia Lodge, and as an Old Settler, he was one of the most respected of that society.
In his death the county loses a good citizen, and a warm-hearted, steadfast friend. His family's grief is great for their loss, but he did well by them, leaving them in excellent circumstances and with the remembrance of a good and kind husband and father. |
